Le Petit Hotel

Just as the name suggests, Le Petit Hotel is the epitome of boutique hotel cuteness. It's held inside a historic town house dating to 1830, fronted by lovely columned windows. Interiors are a juxtaposition of Old World architecture with modern decor: Thick stone walls point to the building's century-old status, while bright orange tub chairs in funky shapes give it a distinctly hip vibe. This together with jet-black arm chairs makes up most of the seating here, and overall the lobby is a narrow space. That said, the hotel aims to make this a cozy hangout spot. It helps that the front desk doubles as a coffee bar, doling out espressos and lattes in between checking in guests. On our visit bluesy music was playing and some guests were lingering over the newspaper here. Toward the back of the lobby, steps lead down to the hotel's breakfast room wrapped around in a black-and-white mural that resembles street art. And by the elevator, a canvas covered in lipstick-red sequins flashes at every passerby.

This charming, indie atmosphere tends to make Le Petit Hotel something of an anti high-rise hotel. It's the welcome alternative to the glossy chains found throughout Downtown. Most guests here are tourists on vacation looking for a smaller-scale hotel with a bit of personality. But a handful of business travelers come here as well, seeking out a sanctuary away from the corporate masses. Just be warned, this little hotel hardly has the square footage for meeting rooms, if those are a requirement on your trip. Several cruisers also make this their home base on land, since it's close to the cruise terminal.

Staff here go out of their way to get to know the guests by name and interact with them, offering up their own recommendations for restaurants in the area or fun things to do. It's part of the vibe that makes Le Petit more of an inn in spirit (versus a hotel).

Let Petit Hotel's location—surrounded by little cafes, cobblestone streets, and historic houses—is just as charming as the property itself. Several of Montreal's best cafes are in walking distance, including Olive et Gourmando (three minutes) and Café Titanic (four minutes), plus the adorable gift shop and sandwich counter Le Petit Dep is right across the street. The waterfront, with the Montreal Science Centre, the piers, and the cruise terminal, is just two minutes away on foot as well. Other notable site are also in easy reach, including the Montreal Museum of Archaeology and History, just around the corner, and the Notre-Dame Basilica of Montreal, which can be reached in five minutes' walk. However, sites in Downtown will require a bit more of a hike. For example the Mary, Queen of the World Cathedral is a lengthy 20-minute walk or 10-15 minutes by taxi or public transit. And the hip Mile End neighborhood takes a 20-minute cab ride or 30-40 minutes via public transit. Reaching Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport is a little over an hour by public transit or around 35 minutes by taxi.

The same combination of punchy, modern decor and historical architecture seen in public spaces continues into the guest rooms. Exposed stone walls add century-old gravitas to the streamlined, dark-finish furniture. And bright orange armchairs add just the right pop of color and retro '60s vibe. Sparkling drum light fixtures top things off with just a dash of bling.

Amenities, which are the same throughout all room categories, are also wonderfully luxe. Resembling a miniature guitar amp, the Marshall Bluetooth speakers by the beds give a hint of rock-n-roll. Flat-screen TVs, free Wi-Fi, a generous amount of USB ports, individual temperature controls, electric safes, phones, and electronic “do not disturb”/”make up my room” signs check off all the modern, high-tech comforts. Travelers that appreciate a well-stocked minibar will find local goodies like Quebec-brewed beer and Montreal chocolates in-room, along with all the other usual suspects like Pringles and soda.  

Bathrooms are equally well-appointed with spa-like multi-jet showers that leave guests swooning (though these aren't quite as spacious in the smallest room category). Vessel sinks—some in glass, others ceramic—add another designer detail, and pampering extras like bathrobes, slippers, LeLabo toiletries, and magnifying mirrors are all on hand.

Rooms are split into four easy categories denoting size: Small, Medium, Large, and Extra Large. Mediums are the "standard room" category with king beds. These have the most traditional "hotel-like" layout with square rooms flanked by a squared off bathroom. Other layouts can get a bit quirkier and L-shaped, part of the virtue of being in an older building. Another downside of being a historical low-rise building: Views aren’t always that great. One room we toured just overlooked a brick wall. Units overlooking the street are considered to have the best views, although the quietest ones are on the outer "tips" of the building. Thankfully all rooms seem to get good light, and several have the additional flourish of pretty architectural details like super-high slanted ceilings, arched windows, or faux Juliet balconies as well.

The Extra Large room we toured had a Wii gaming console with a yoga mat and a leather futon-like couch that could flip down to offer extra bedding (an especially nice option for families traveling with kids though perhaps not as comfy for an adult). 

As expected for a small-scale property, Le Petit Hotel doesn't have the features of the big chains. Don't come expecting a full restaurant, bar, gym, or pool. But that doesn't mean the hotel is without its perks. One great one: Breakfast is always included as part of the hotel’s “inn” vibe. It’s a basic continental, but the croissants are well-loved by guests. It's laid out buffet-style in the breakfast room just off the lobby. And while there's no restaurant for other meals, room service is available, provided by an off-site restaurant. Guests can also order specialty coffees from the lobby's bar, which can also be brought to rooms. 

Guests are also granted access to an off-site fitness center at a sister hotel, although there's no business center or meeting rooms available for corporate travelers. Valet parking (fee) and same-day laundry and dry cleaning (fee) are on request, and Wi-Fi and newspapers are both free. 

Staff pride themselves on their friendly and personalized service, and they aim to get to know all the guests that stay here.